No info for Protestant teachers

DUP MLA David McIlveen asked the to detail the number of teachers from a Protestant background and a Roman Catholic background currently teaching in Roman Catholic schools.

He replied: “The Fair Employment and Treatment (NI) Order 1998 provides for employers to make annual monitoring returns to the Equality Commission about the composition of the workforce and those applying for employment.

“However, this provision does not apply to recruitment as a teacher in a school. Therefore, employers of teachers in Catholic schools do not hold information on their religious background.”

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland says that not all types of employment are covered by the fair employment and treatment legislation. For example, the legislation does not apply to clergymen and ministers of religion or to the recruitment of teachers in schools.

In addition, any employment or occupation where the essential nature of the job requires it to be done by a person holding or not holding a particular religious belief or political opinion is excluded from protection against discrimination. For example, posts with duties of a religious nature, are exempt.